It is a well known problem that West Ham are lacking goals this season. We are definitely missing the services of the big money man, Andy Carroll. However our lack of ability to sign a second quality striker has cost us dearly this season. So, here I propose five quick fixes to our striker problem when the window re-opens in January, whether Carroll is fit or not.
Jermain Defoe:
This first option is quite an obvious one. He has been linked with West Ham quite a lot in the past month or so. Defoe who left the Hammer on sour terms, is a decision that many fans would not like to see. However how could you turn him down at a time likes this? Especially as he does exactly what we need, scores goals. He has also been labelled the best substitute in the Premier League, now that’s not a bad label to have. I think that Defoe would welcome a return to West Ham, especially with a World Cup coming up, meaning he would like to have regular playing time to prove he is worth a place on the plane to Rio.
Miroslav Klose:
Perhaps a name that has not been mentioned regularly but nevertheless he would be a quality addition. Although he is 35 years old, he scored 16 goals in 29 games last season for Lazio, not bad. His contract is up in June, so it could be that a cut price deal could be struck in January. Especially with Klose claiming he would like to leave Lazio, and German newspaper Bild stating “Ciao Italia! Klose wants to go to England”. Klose is also strong in the air, so would fit into the side. Again with a place on the plane to Rio at stake, Klose may feel he wants to prove he can still play at the top level.
Diego Milito:
Another ‘golden oldie’ if you like. The same really goes with Milito, his contract is also up in the summer and would like to earn a place in the Argentina side for the World Cup. The striker is 34 years old now, but would still do a job in front of goal. He has a wealth of experience and could prove to be a useful player to our current side, he must be better than Maiga. It is also believed that Inter Milan are willing to let the striker go for a reduced fee, instead of letting him go in the summer for free.
Demba Ba:
This is a player I was surprised didn’t come back to us in the summer. This is because he was also going to be behind Torres in the pecking order at Chelsea, as he still tries to justify his £50 million price tag. With the transfer of Eto’o this was only going to push him down further. I think that Ba would actually come back to the club that welcomed him to English football, mainly for the lure of regular football. However I hope he may feel as if he owes us, after he was part of the side that got relegated a few seasons back. Anyway, he would be a welcome addition and is still only young, and he definitely knows where the goal is.
Andre-Pierre Gignac:
Gignac is another player that has barely been mentioned as a target for West Ham. However I believe he would be a very good signing for us, even if it likely to be on a loan deal. Playing in Ligue 1 for Marseille and still only 27 years old, Gignac has been capped 17 times by his national team of France. He is strong in the air and is also technically adept, he would slot straight into our current team, and could also challenge for a place alongside Andy Carroll.